Archive for November, 2011

Atul Vashistha and Neo Group Recognized with Top Industry Honors

November 17th, 2011

Atul Vashistha, the highly respected speaker, author and advisor and Chairman of Neo Group (http://www.neogroup.com) was recently recognized by Globalization Today (the official magazine of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals) in their first ever “Powerhouse 25″ list. Nearshore Americas, the leading online business news provider dedicated to Latin America, also recognized Atul in their 2nd ever “Power 50″ rankings at rank 5! Atul was also on the Power 50 list in 2010.

Globalization Today, the official magazine of the IAOP, is a monthly business magazine published exclusively for outsourcing professionals responsible for transforming their company’s businesses through outsourcing. Thousands of votes were cast for the first annual Globalization Today Powerhouse 25 list, which can be accessed here – http://tinyurl.com/cfpnp2q. Globalization Today’s panel finally weighed in with their expert knowledge to identify the “top 25 Global Powerhouses” in the outsourcing industry. The Powerhouse 25 is an interesting mix of outsourcing customers, service providers, advisors and academia from around the globe from heads of their own businesses to chiefs of corporations. Many have written books and articles, spoken at conferences, served on boards, and been quoted in the news on outsourcing.

As a testimony to the great work that Atul Vashistha and Neo Group have been doing in the outsourcing space since 1999, Atul was featured on this inaugural list among other influential leaders. “Globalization and emerging markets represent opportunities. Opportunities for firms to be more competitive and for locations to benefit from job creation at various levels. I am honored to be recognized and share this with our Neo team and the clients we serve,” said Vashistha, on being featured on the IAOP Globalization Today Powerhouse 25 list.

Nearshore Americas is an independent online business news provider dedicated to expanding knowledge around the fastest growing services outsourcing market in the world – Latin America. Nearshore Americas published the Nearshore Power 50 rankings for the 2nd time, which can be accessed here – http://nearshoreamericas.com/power-50-2011/. This unique ranking highlights the top 50 professionals who have played a major role in strengthening services outsourcing in the Americas, developing new business, increasing the region’s competitiveness, setting the highest standards for service delivery, and ultimately improving the lives of their employees.

Atul was featured at #5 in the 2011 rankings and was also featured in last year’s rankings. “Every industry needs someone to step up and say: Why not? From his highly respected consulting work in Colombia, to his recent placement as Chair of the newly formed Nearshore Executive Alliance, Atul knows how to find creative solutions to get results. Atul excels at making countries, trade zone entities and other interests more focused and competitive. Atul definitively deserves to be in the top ten of the list. His experience and deep knowledge of the industry have not only made him a lucid and passionate leader and consultant, but also an active promoter and advocate of Latin America,” says Nicolo Gligo, Power 50 Judging Panel.

Source:http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/16/4058542/atul-vashistha-and-neo-group-recognized.html

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Fujistu Launches Hybrid Cloud Based on Windows Azure

November 17th, 2011

IT outsourcing firm Fujitsu announced on Wednesday that it has launched a hybrid cloud service based on Microsoft Windows Azure, extending both its own cloud portfolio and its relationship with Microsoft.

The company’s cloud services go beyond infrastructure to include a pretty extensive collection of high-end enterprise consulting and educational services around cloud computing.

Fujitsu’s global alliance with Microsoft is an extensive partnership. In addition Fujitsu to being a Microsoft Gold Certified Partnership, the companies collaborate on technology and product development, according to the Fujitsu website.

Fujitsu’s announcement says hybrid cloud solutions offer customers flexibility when designing their cloud strategy, enabling them to place workloads and data in the environments most appropriate for them, including public and private cloud environments, or combinations of the two.

More information on the Azure-based hybrid cloud solution is offered in a PDF fact sheet, downloadable from the Fujitsu site.

The company says using hybrid cloud systems can enable a customer to reduce the costs of its cloud services by 30 percent or more.

Fujitsu’s hybrid cloud services link Azure-based cloud components with Windows Server based systems running either in the customer’s environment or in Fujitsu’s cloud platform. The modularity and portability of components enables sensitive applications (including enterprise and government applications) to run in Azure using data generated in a variety of locations, and stored wherever the customer prefers, simplifying the task of meeting certain conditions of regulatory compliance.

According to Microsoft, the new offering from Fujitsu is a good illustration of how a Microsoft service provider partner might incorporate components from a variety of technologies to present a flexible hybrid cloud – a model Microsoft is promoting to partners.

“These new cloud options from Fujitsu demonstrate the potential for offering public cloud services with value-added service techniques to deliver sophisticated cloud solutions that meet customers’ specific needs,” says Windows Azure general manager Doug Hauger. “The hybrid cloud model from Fujitsu, which uses the Microsoft Windows Azure platform, shows how our work together will address key customer needs such as integration with on-premise systems or specific security requirements.”

Source:http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/111611_Fujistu_Launches_Hybrid_Cloud_Based_on_Windows_Azure

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Council asks BPO firm to restore waiting sheds

November 17th, 2011

MEMBERS of the City Council on Monday approved a committee on laws recommendation ordering a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm to restore waiting sheds it painted back to their original condition.

In a unanimous decision, council members told SITEL Philippines Corporation they are not confirming the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by Sitel’s vice president for Human Resources Haidee Enriquez and the city represented by Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

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The MOA inked by SITEL with the city concerns the upkeep and maintenance of various waiting sheds in Baguio including the provision of appropriate work vests for city street sweepers and garbage collectors.

The MOA covers waiting sheds in barangays DPS near the Panagbenga Park; Harrison Road in front of Tiong San Department Store; Marcoville near Victory Liner; Phil-Am; Salud Mitra 1 in front of Mabini Elementary School and another in front of the barangay hall; Session Road Gov. Pack St. near Jollibee; near Baguio General Hospital; Dr. Carino St.; in front of Quezon Elementary School; Kisad Rod near Starwood Hotel; Leonard Wood Road in front of the Court of Appeals Compound; near the Department of the Interior and Local Government; near People Support; and Upper General Luna Road near 50’s Diner.

However, previous council investigations revealed the BPO firm allegedly did not follow specifications in the MOA by painting its logo and other advertisements on the waiting sheds.

More than 15 waiting sheds as reported by the City Building and Architecture Office, some not in the MOA, were also repainted by the firm, the July 11 council investigation revealed.

Elmer Corpuz, sourcing manager of SITEL, told council members in the July 11 session they might have bypassed several provisions in their MOA with the city in the repainting of the waiting sheds by placing not only the logo of their company but also contact numbers and e-mail address which made the repainted sheds look like advertisements of their company.

The firm also allegedly did not follow specifications nor coordinated with City Building and Architecture Officer Engr. Oscar Flores as existing standards only allow colors gray, white and green to be used on painting waiting sheds.

After three months of reminding the firm, committee on laws headed by Councilor Richard Cariño recommended last Monday for the non-confirmation of the MOA for the firm’s failure to comply with the specifications on uniformity of colors and the firm’s failure to submit a reply to the follow-up letter sent by the committee last September 15.

It was noted in the July 11 council session the firm’s sourcing manager Corpuz also promised to repaint the waiting sheds and abide by the specifications stated by the city but three months had past and the waiting sheds were still not restored to its original condition.

With this, the committee on laws ordered SITEL to restore the waiting sheds to their original condition within 30 days from receipt of notice.

Failure on the part of the BPO firm to restore the waiting sheds will oblige the city to restore the waiting sheds to their original condition and charge all restoration expenses to the company with a warning its business permit will not be renewed unless all obligations to the city are settled.

The painting of the waiting sheds resulted to the filing of a complaint against Mayor Mauricio Domogan by journalist and researcher Grace Bandoy last August for and on behalf of Linis Gobyerno and the public interest of the Filipino taxpayer for alleged violations of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Code Of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees and abuse of authority.

Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2011/11/16/council-asks-bpo-firm-restore-waiting-sheds-190998

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Consider five rules when outsourcing IT, says expert

November 17th, 2011

Using a cloud platform to outsource IT operations is a big consideration for many businesses at present. Cost reductions and a higher degree of flexibility are the primary drivers behind companies taking the plunge with the new technology.

However, there are growing number of IT departments who are concerned over its security and service levels.

IT expert Michael Robert of BusinessComputingWorld.co.uk says there are five key points businesses should look at when deciding whether or not to outsource to the cloud.

Firstly, he wrote on the website, companies need to have an understanding of their IT infrastructure and how it operates. If the companies runs a lot of file sharing operations or phone switches then they may not be suitable for the cloud.

He added that some businesses, such as financial institutions, are governed by strict regulations and as such some of their operations may best kept in house rather than outsourced.
Secondly, he stated, weighing up current and future costs against the benefits on offer is important. However, he was keen to note: “I’ve found that, in almost all cases of outsourcing to the cloud, businesses that reduce their IT estate and centralise servers in a third-party data centre still have ample processing power and storage to realise these kinds of ambitions.”
Despite this, his third point is to look beyond the figures. Cloud should not be looked up on just in terms or cost reduction and day to day operations, it can also work as an effective back up the event of an unforeseen disaster.
Fourthly, he advised that your companies should optimise their networks for the cloud. He stated that too often the network is an afterthought when outsourcing projects begin and can impact on performance. Increasing bandwidth is another thing companies neglect using a cloud-based platform.

Lastly, he said that a business should get to know its provider. He suggested speaking to their other clients to find out whether they will be a good fit for your business.

Source:http://www.ihotdesk.com/article/801213418/Consider-five-rules-when-outsourcing-IT,-says-expert

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Borough outsources IT to schools partnership

November 17th, 2011

Luton borough council is to outsource its ICT services to the Luton Learning and Community Partnership and contractor Civica. The 10-year deal, worth £34m, is part of a broader programme to save the council a total of £12.6m. Some 60 council employees will transfer to the private sector.

Under the deal, a venture called “Project Genesis” will run all core ICT operations for the council. The partners will also set up a programme management office to support and focus transformation initiatives.

According to a press statement, the transfer of ICT services to the partnership ‘provides a platform for the council to protect front line resources while responding to changing local needs’. Luton Learning and Community Partnership (LLCP), set up as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme, “will build a highly flexible service model”.

Robin Harris, the council’s deputy leader, said, “This programme will enable us to improve front line services without additional cost. We’re particularly excited that the partnership’s service centre model will concentrate work in the town to help support the local economy and jobs.”

Analyst TechMarketView commented that the deal demonstrates that one size doesn’t fit all in UK local government. “We fully expect to see further authorities opting to do more with specialist partners that they know well, such as Civica, rather than embarking on huge, all-encompassing outsourcing deals.

“Clearly there are risks for Civica, which is relatively new to these larger outsourcing deals, but we’re reassured that the company’s strategy is to stick to outsourcing and managed services in areas where it already has specialist expertise and software.”

Source:http://www.ukauthority.com/Headlines/tabid/36/NewsArticle/tabid/64/Default.aspx?id=3412

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Boutique radiant.law leads on £1.4bn admin and IT outsourcing project for Friends Life

November 17th, 2011

Outsourcing boutique 
radiant.law has scooped up a lead role on a £1.4bn outsourcing project for financial services group Friends Life to the UK subsidiary of India’s Tata Consultancy Services, Diligenta.

The boutique, which was created early this year by a group of breakaway partners from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Latham & Watkins and Morrison & Foerster (MoFo), advised Diligenta on the mandate.

Former MoFo outsourcing partner David Skinner led the radiant.law team advising on the 15-year agreement, which will see Friends Life transferring half of the IT and customer services functions of its UK Heritage business to Diligenta. When the deal goes live in 2012 Diligenta will provide insurance administration and IT services to Friends Life from sites in UK and India.

Norton Rose advised Friends Life on the deal, fielding a team under technology & innovation head Mike Rebeiro and fellow partner Maria Ross. The bulk of the negotiations were led by senior associate James Russell, with support from of counsel Marcus Evans.

MoFo’s Skinner has previously advised Abbey Life, RSA, Sun Life of Canada, Old Mutual and Phoenix on outsourcing deals. He said: “Since this was a very complex transaction, Diligenta required experienced lawyers who understood all the pricing, regulatory and performance aspects for this type of transaction and could help protect it from the major commercial, legal and 
regulatory risks.”

Radiant.law, which launched in January, was formed with the intention of creating a practice that would bill primarily on a fixed-price basis rather than using hourly rates.

Source:http://www.legalweek.com/legal-week/news/2125419/boutique-radiantlaw-leads-gbp14bn-admin-outsourcing-project-friends-life

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William Kazman, CEO of iTeam, Inc., to Moderate MIT Enterprise Forum Startup Clinic

November 17th, 2011

iTeam, Inc. today announced that William Kazman, Founder and CEO, will moderate a Startup Clinic hosted by the MIT Enterprise Forum on November 16, 2011. The Startup Clinic provides a learning and networking opportunity for entrepreneurs involved in raising funds. Clinic attendees will hear dress-rehearsal investor pitches from two companies, receive feedback and advice from a panel of experts, and participate in group discussions and networking opportunities.

Pitches will be presented by two start-up companies: an internet broadband service provider and a company developing a web-based social networking application. The panel of experts includes leading financial and venture capital consultants, a legal expert focused on emerging-growth companies, and the president and COO of a Boston-area billion dollar consumer marketing corporation.

With over two decades of entrepreneurial leadership expertise, Mr. Kazman will provide valuable input as the clinic organizer and moderator. Mr. Kazman launched iTeam, Inc. in 2006 and has grown the company into a leading provider of packaged outsourcing of IT and AV installation services. Prior to starting iTeam, Mr. Kazman was Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Staples; co-founder of Ekaru, a regional IT outsourcing company; and founder and CEO of Global Telemedix, a VC-backed e-health software company.

Source:http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8966840.htm

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